Even before Los Angeles Dodgeers took eAfter taking an early lead Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian baseball fans began complaining about the national anthem that began Game 3 of the World Series.
“Who is this guy singing O Canada? They say he was nominated for a Grammy,” a Facebook user wrote in a public Blue Jays fan group.
After Canadian singer JP Saxe performed solo and sang Canada a cappella in front of tens of thousands of fans lining Dodger Stadium, his performance drew criticism on social media.
“JP Saxe was… the wrong one,” said one X user.
“Who the hell is JP Saxe and this can't be the best Canada has to offer. This was just terrible,” another person wrote.
Much of the criticism centered on the quality of his singing, but some Blue Jays fans took issue with Sachs' decision to change the lyrics to the national anthem. Instead of singing “Our home and native land,” he sang “Our home in our native land.”
WATCH | JP Saxe sings O Canada at the World Series:
It is noteworthy that the 32-year-old singer is not the first artist to apply such an amendment. Canadian R&B singer Julie Black also made a change when she sang the national anthem before the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City to draw attention to colonialism in Canada and how Indigenous people across the country are mistreated as a result.
Black's performance received a lot of support. However, she also faced criticism online.
“I think they're missing the point that so much has been taken from Indigenous people and this is an opportunity to talk and affect change and be part of that change.” Black told CBC. Elamin Abdelmahmoud at that time.
While comments critical of Sachs circulated online, others defended the singer-songwriter. “Come on people… he is someone’s son and he sang our anthem with pride… why are we so judgmental?” said one person on Facebook.
CBC News reached out to Sachs for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Earlier this year, Sax made headlines by revealing on social media that he was struggling to sell tickets for his latest tour. Ultimately, despite the attention his public announcement received, he had to cancel the tour.
Following the news, fellow 2025 World Series performers the Jonas Brothers invited Sachs to sing his hit. If the world were to end at the Toronto stop of their “Greetings from Your Hometown” tour at the Rogers Center in August.
Coincidentally, the Jonas Brothers' performance of their song during the first play I can't losein partnership with the charity Stand Up To Cancer – was also criticized as many fans said it interrupted the game at a tense, crucial moment.
On Tuesday, Deborah Cox will perform the Canadian national anthem during Game 4 of the World Series. Known for songs like Beautiful urA multi-platinum recording artist and producer, he has been nominated for a Grammy and inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Canadian-American Juno winner and Grammy nominee Rufus Wainwright will sing Canada V Game 5.
